Senior Pet Care
Your pet has been faithful to you throughout his or her life—now it’s your turn to be there as he or she enters the golden years. While pets experience many of the same things we do as we age, they experience them at a faster rate and sooner in life. Most pets are considered “senior” between five to seven years of age. The breed, size, weight, and overall health of the individual pet are all taken into account when determining senior pet status. Routine wellness exams will allow your veterinarian to monitor your pet as he or she ages and help all of you gracefully transition into the next phase of life.
More Frequent Health Exams
As your pet ages it will be necessary to monitor his or her health with more frequent wellness exams. Going from annual to bi-annual exams allows your veterinarian to identify any health concerns early on and provide you with recommendations for ways to help keep your pet comfortable as he or she ages.
Nutritional Counseling
Senior animals’ dietary needs change as they age, often requiring fewer calories due to decrease activity. Ensuring your pet stays at a healthy weight will decrease his or her chances of developing medical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, and more. Providing your pet with a diet high in fiber and supplemented with antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and beta-carotene will help him or her lead a long and healthy life. Ask our staff about our complete line of Science Diet® food. We’ll be happy to assist you in selecting the right one for your pet’s needs.
Keeping Your Senior Pet Comfortable
Your pet has been there for you—now it’s your turn. There are many simple and easy ways that you can help your pet be more comfortable during his or her senior years:
- Improve your pet’s bedding—Providing a soft, cushioned bed that is low to the ground will ensure your pet has sweet dreams while getting a good night’s sleep.
- Keep your pet warm—As pets age, they have a harder time maintaining their body temperature. Check out your local pet store’s line of sweaters to help your pet stay warm.
- Make your pet’s surroundings “senior dog assessable”—Consider pet stairs or mini ramps if your pet is allowed on furniture or in your bed at night. Don’t let aging conditions such as arthritis rob you and your pet of this special bonding time.
Talk to one of our staff members about how our Wellness Plans can assist you in caring for your senior pet with low monthly payments and product discounts.